Brick fork



A. A. NOACK ET AL Oct. 24, 1950 BRICK FORK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1946 Oct. 24, 1950 NQACK ET AL 2,527,103

v BRICK FORK Filed May 1'7, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 W R F ,5 se t. a ll HELI I fiillEH- BMW M O I E min \I Q 4 w gwucm'io'o AAA/back, a Clificbmzkfga/Z, N

Oct. 24, 1950 A. A. NOACK ET AL BRICK FORK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 17, 1946 \\\-w\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\N\\\\\\\N\\\ my En. W. m m C Patented Oct. 24, 1950 3 BRICK FORK Andrew A. Noack and Carl B. Schmidgall, Peoria,

111.; said Noack assignor to said Schmidgall I Application May 17, 1946, Serial No. 670,645

This invention pertains to improvements in so 23 Claimsu- (01. 214-652) vations of a. tine parts therein bein shown in called Brick Forks, bein that type 'of apparatus employed in lifting and transporting stacked bricks, tile, and the like, said invention having for its novelty a new form of mechanism withinthe fingers'or tines of the fork, as well as an exteriormechanism foroperating such inner mechanism.-

. .Anl'object is to provide. mechanismwithin tines or fingers of the fork that is of simple-and rugged construction,rthat is positive in action, and not liable ito fail or give trouble.

Another object is to provide abrick gripping structure mounted in a tine to'swing to and from a brick gripping position by the operation of a wedging member shiftable longitudinally within said tine and connected with an elevating means on any usual lift-truck.

Further, an vobject is to mount outside of the tines of a brick fork the power employed for outwardly and inwardly moving the brick-gripping memberzof the tines by which to simplify the tine structure and provide for a more reliable and positive action.

Li rAgain an important object is to providean operating member within a fork-tine of such type that in'the lowering or elevatin the fork the gripping members are automatically retracted or outwardly extended without the need ofoperating power-means inside the tine for any purpose. l I

That theinvention in all its details may be fully understood the appended drawings are provided to form part hereof. ,Figure 1 ,is a'front elevation of the brick fork accordingto the present invention. Figure 1 is a vertical section ofa stop, several of-which areillustrated in Figure 1 I 1 Figure 2 is a side elevation of the invention, as applied to a lifting member forming part of a lift truck not shown. I

Figure \3 shows in perspective a slide employed withina finger ortine shown in other figures of saiddrawings.

Figures 4 and 5 are perspectives of parts also employed in the fingers or tines. Figure 6 is a plan, in longitudinal section, of part of a tine shown in the various figures. Figure 7 is,a perspective of parts shown in Figure 6. c r e v Figure 8 is a perspective of a bell crank connection illustrated in Figure 2. Y Fig ure 9 is a plan of a portion of the brick fork shown in horizontal section taken on line -89 of Figure-1.-

".sFigures 10 and 1 1; are

retracted; and extended positions," respectively,

shown ona larger scale.

' Figures 12 and 13 areplans in longitudinal section of operating parts within any one of. the,

. fingers or tines shown inlthe preceding figures,

:. simplifying the entire tine-mechanism.

said parts being illustrated in two positions-of adjustment, and J Figure 14 is a side elevation of one of thefingers or tines. l I.

The mechanism shown, and herein to .,be de-; scribed, is of that type wherein the fingers or tines of the so called brick fork .are' designed; to be shifted beneath and to engageand lift an. orderly arrangedstack or. bricks or other'like parts. It is well to. state that, sofar as known, it has been the practiceto install within the tines'- suchmembers as springs to operate the bric'k' gripping members in atleast one direction, and to depend wholly upon the expanding forc'e' thereof-v l ,r r I In the present arrangement, however, as will be brought out, the power for gripping ressure" is wholly applied through a shiftable wed gi n'g member or slide so constituted as to impart arioutward gripping action to a load gripping mem'-' her, and to retract the'same', according to direction of movement of said member-or slide.' Such a provision provides for a positive and effective: gripping action, and for retraction, as well' as? In the drawingsfA indicates a part of any usual and well knowntackle operated by the; power"of-a lift-truck, or other type of mecha-.- nism,notshown. 1- I As part of 'thepresentistructure, [indicates a, frame, in this instance, from which mayextend rearwardly toward said member A-,."a =pair of brackets A, for-exampleto receive therethrough alifting-bar B, see Figures 2 and9. 1 1 I Forward of and paralleling the frame I- is a I second frame 2, IEigure"2;--this being shiftable with respect tothe 'saidframe I in a vertical direction, being retained in respect to -the former; by means .of guide members 3 affixed to said frame l, by-suitablezmeans: At the uppere tremity of frame I also may be secured two pairs, of guides 4, there being a pair of rollers 5 be v tween the member; of eachsaid' pair of guides, said guides embracing the frame 2 at both-sides as in said Figure 2. Also a pair of rollers the between the-lower portions ,of the two frames, these being carried by brackets 1 as in Figures ,1 and9. Thus said frame 2 is allowed. free verti f cal guided movement. v

its forward side is a series of fingers or tines 8 which parallel each other and lie at right angles to the plane of said frame. The bodies of the tines may be members of single parts, or may be made up of plates welded to each other, the outermost tines being single channel members while the intermediate ones are H-shaped or double. channeled asshown best in Figures and 11.

Normally, the weight of the frame 2 and its tines 8 is elastically supported from the frame I', the latter in this instance, having secured thereto near its top a bar 9, for example, suspended from which is a pair of springs IUby rods ll adiustable at the said bar 9 for any given spring tension by nuts I2.

The lower ends of the springs are conveniently connected to parts of the. frame 2 for the support of that member.

Slidable verticallyin a bar' l3 of the" frame I is a series of rods 14 which extend above the latter and are inclosed by springs l 5 restingupon said bar, nuts [6 on the rods serving as spring tension members, there being a stop I4 fixed on each. rod abutting; the bar (3.

These'several' rods It lie in a line alongthe bar I3 and each lies vertically above and in. line with a channel of each of the several tines 8, as in Figure 9, for example. Aifixed. to therear of the frame 2 at its lower extremity is a bracket arrangement l1, Figures 1,2 and 8, each of which lies in line with the said rods [4' on each of which bracket is pivotally mounted a bell-crank l 8,. and

The tines may be open at their ends adjacent the frame 2, but at their forward. ends are closed, naturally, as suggested inFigure 9,. and they are pointed at the latter free ends so that they will guide themselves between. the usual supporting spaced bricks of: the brickstack to. be lifted.

Lying within each channel'ofthe tines is a slide 20 best understood by a study of Figure 3. In general, this slide is of' a. U'-form',. in the present instance, the yoke portion thereof lying upright and abutting the vertical wall 8' of a tine, the opposite spaced limbs'2'l and. 22'. therefore; lying in horizontal positions closely adjacent the upper and lower walls of said tine, the opening-between the limbs facing outwardly, the" structure as a unit being free toshift longitudinally within the channel. V

In said Figure 3', see also Figures 1'2 and 13', the two sides 2|, 22 are recessed at 22 to provide, in this instance, two'opposit'e pairs of fingers 22' spaced from the upright wall, or yoke portion, the terminals of the fingers being preferably rounded and extended slightly toward said upright wall.

In positions spaced from the terminaTs of said fingers 22' the said opposite side walls extend away from the vertical wall or yoke as at 23' at a desired angle, as shown, fbr'a purpose to appear, see said Figures 3, 12 and 13.

In the present instancebut two pairs of fingers 22' and two angular surfaces 23 are shown but where tines are longer or shorter, perhaps, a greater or less number" of such fingers and said surfaces may be employed. The recess in each portion 2|, 22 lies inward from, and behind the finger 22' and opens around the end of the same 4 and also is open to the channel at the finger at the open side thereof toward the surface 23.

Attached pivotally to one end of the slide 20, or that end nearest to which the bases of the fingers 22' lie, is the previously mentioned rod l9 that has connection with the bell-crank [8, so that oscillations imparted to the said bellcrank will, through said' rod l9, impart endwise reciprocating movements to the said slide.

Lying within the slide 20 is a channel member 24* adapted to swing outwardly. In Figures 12 and 13 arms or levers 25, are shown, and in Figure 5 a pair, upper and lower, may be seen.

These arms lie in the same plane with the fingers 22, each in a described recess behind the same, one. of their ends being pivoted at 25' each to the upper and lower limbs of the tine 8 while their other ends are pivoted to the named channel member 24, and, as may be seen, said arms lie at times within the recess. of the slide 20 behind said fingers 22', or partially extended, as shown, accordingito the. position of 'said slide. 20'. In Figure 12, the'arms 25 lie behind the fingers. However, when the slide 20'is. moved towardthe left in a pull applied. to it the surfaces 23 will engage the endsxof the arms carrying the channel member 24 forcing the latter outwardly, and always parallel to the longitudinal line of the tine as in Figure 13. In an opposite direction of such movement of. the slide' the fingers 22' will engage and swing the arms. inwardly to. house said channel member, the surfaces 23 meanwhile receding. Thus are the" outwardand inward movements of the channel members accomplished.

The ends of saidycharme'l member 24, as in Figures 6 and 7, each has a.- bridging portion 28. Within the channel of: said member a series of gripping members 21 are inserted, thesebeing of rubber or other suitablematerial, and seated in the bottom of the channel, while a rod 28 extends lengthwise through the gripping' members holding them in place. Spacers 29 of channel form lie between the said gripping members and pins 311 secure the spacers in position and atthe same time form thepivots for the connection of the channel member with'the. named arms or levers 25.

Naturally, the spacing of the gripping members provides for an even gripping on uneven surfaces of the bricks of the load to be handled.

It is observed that the only parts within the several tines are the longitudinally shiftable members 20, and the carrying parts for the gripping members shifted thereby. The power employed to project the carrying parts to extended positions for grasping the load, and for retracting said parts is the mechanism outside the tines including the structure I, 2 and the parts carried thereby and the springs II] as will'be understood in the following:

Viewing Figure 2, the springs I 0 normally support the frame 2 together with the tines 8 in the position shown ready to enter beneath the load to be lifted.

The tines having been placed in load lifting position the power of the lift-truck in use is applied to elevate the part A to elevate both frames l and 2. As the tines arise into contact with the load as the lifting effort continues, the said springs ID are placed under the greater tension by the weight of the load. While the frame 2 is momentarily stationary at the time the tines meet the load the frame I is moving upward slightly with respect to frame'2'. As said frame 'l is thus moving the rods l4 connected to the bell-cranks, and having the fixed stops Hi there on are likewise moving upward by reason of the abutment of the said stops against the bar 13 with the result-that the bell-cranks are swung and thereby each pulls upon a slide 20 by the rod I9 connected thereto. The springs -l"at this time have been slightly compressed in the initial movement of the bell-crank. The described action causes the angular surfaces 23' of said slide to abut the ends of the arms 25 forcing them and the erstwhile housed channel member 24 outwardly to carry the gripping members 21 of opposed tines into joint gripping action on the standing brick load.

Since the slides 20 have thus been shifted they are permanently held in this position and maintain the parts in gripping position. At the time of delivery of the load the part A when lowered places the tines of the fork on the ground while the frame I continues downward whereupon the stop l4, also lowered, causesthe rod H to swing the bell-crank, the rod'19 of which shifts the slide 20 in a direction opposite that first described, the fingers 22 being thus forced against the arm or levers 25', swinging them to the position shown in Figure 12, the actuated parts thus taking up their retracted housed positions.

Thus a very positive action is provided for in furnishing a member shiftable lengthwise of the tine,which in itself, laterally shifts the gripping portions to and from their housed positions while maintaining them at either extreme due to the structure employed and by reason of the external power provided by the lifting gearing of the-lifttractor and the weight of the load handled;

Though structures have been illustrated and described that answer the requirements any other equivalent arrangement may be used with out departing from the spirit of the invention: and which may still-"lie within" the meaning or the appended claims. Y1 What is claimed is: 1. In combination with the tine of a brick fork having an abutment portion, mechanism include i-ng a member shiftable longitudinally of said tine and bearing against said abutment portion, said member outward from the latter having a face lying at an angle to' the direction of shift thereof, a load gripping'structure including "an arm pivoted at one end on the tine adjacent said member in the path of movement of and adapted to be engaged by said face and swung laterally at its other endtoward load engaging position, and operating-means to impart movementtc) themember along said tine. I f l 2. In combination with the'tine of'a brick fork having an abutment portion, mechanism including a member shiftable longitudinally in said tine and bearing at oneside againstsaid abutment portion, and having at its opposite side a face oblique to the line of movement of said member, a load gripping structure including an arm pivoted at one end on, the tine and normally lying in the path of said'movement of the member in one direction to receive said face upon one side thereof, said member including a part engageable with the arm at its. other side, and operating means to impart shifting movement in one direction to the member to engage the arm for swinging it outwardly, and for shift influsaid member in an opposite direction to engage said part with the arm to swing the same inwardly toward the tine.

- 3.: The invention as recitedlin-claim 2 wherein the named part is fixed relative to the shiftable memberi g 4. In combination with a channeled tine of a brick fork, mechanism including a channeled member seated in the channel of said tine and opening toward the open side of the tine channel and shiftable in a longitudinal direction, a sec-,- ond channel member adapted to nest in said channel member, two pairs of arms, each pair being pivoted at one of their ends on the tine andspaced from each other in a longitudinal direction, said arms at their other ends pivotally carying the said second channel member adapted to swing to carry the latter into and outward from the fine parallel thereto, yieldable gripper members carreid by said second channel memher, and means to retain thegripper members in the'latter. I"

5. In combination with a channeled tine of a brick fork, mechanism including a channeled member seated'in the channel of said tine; the same openingtoward the open side of the'tine channel andshiftable in a longitudinal direction, asecond channel member adapted to nest in the said channel member, two pairs ofarms, each pair being pivoted at one of its ends on the tine and spaced fromeach other in a longitudinal direction, and'said arms being pivoted to""'and carrying the said second" channel member adapted to swing to carry the latter into and outwardfrom the tine parallel thereto, yieldable gripper members carried by said second channel member, the'first named channel member having provision in opposite direction of shift thereof to engage the arms at opposite side thereof in alter n'ate manner'to swing thesecond named member outwardly fromthe tinechannel and to retract the-same; y 651m oombinationwith a power lifted part and a frame provided with the channeled tines of a brick fork, of mechanism including a load gripping structure carried by and adapted to'lie within a tine of said fork, an arm'pivoted at one of its ends to said tine and at its other'end piv oted-to said structura a longitudinally'shiftable in opposite directions laterally in the shifting of said member, means to elastically supportthe said frameand the-tines from the power lifted part; and means operatively connected to the named shiftable- Inemberin the tine 'said means beiii'gattached to and supported from the power lifted part. "l

"*7. In combination with a powerlifted part and s ame provided with the channeled I tines "of a brick-fork'of mechanism including a load grip ping-structure carried by' and adapted tone within a'tine of said fork, an arm-pivoted at one of its ends-to said tine and at its other end pivoted to said structure, a longitudinally shiftable member in said tine provided with means to engage inalternate manner the opposite sides of the'a'rm to'swing it and the gripping structure in opposite direction laterally in the shifting of said member, means to elastically support the said frame a'ndthe tines from the power lifted part,

and means operatively connected to the named shiftable memberinthe tine said means being attached to and elastically supported from the frame lifted part, the saidshiftable member be ing. operated in one direction to extend the gripping structure when the lifting part is raisedto memos 7 name maa anawnen moved in the other directi'oirxpositively' engaging. the: said gripping: structure to retract it when the power lifted part is lowered to release the load.

8; In abrick fork including a tine, in combination, 'a member shiftable longitudinally on the fine and having two spaced extensions facing each other-in substantially the same plane; a gripper carrying part, an; arm pivoted at one end one'thetine and at its other end pivotally carryin'grsaid' part, the arm and part adapted to swing laterally of the tine, said spaced extension adaptedl'toseparately and alternately engage the arm and s'wingit laterally in opposite directions in the-longitudinal shift of said member.

-9'.-In a brick fork tine, in combination, a member shiftab'le on'the tine, means for shifting said member, a gripper carrying part, an arm pivoted at one end of the tine and at its other endpivotally. carrying the said part, for swinging the same,- the member having a finger on a wall th'ereof spaced from another wall of'said: meme hen to'lprovid'e a recess between the said finger and thelast named wall for enclosing the arm inione of the positions 'of the same, and an extension on the member spaced from the free end of thezifinger adapted toengage the arm, the finger and the extension adapted in the opposite shifting movements-of the-member to separately a ndxalternately swing-the arm and the named gripper part m oppositedirections. :d-rlOxIn-a brick fork mechanism, in: combination with==atpowerliftedpart, an uprightframe carriedt-hereby; a second upright frame shiftable with; respect to first name'd frame, a spring ate tach'ed atone-end to'the latter and attached at its other -end to and for supporting and lift- ..ingsaid second frameya tine carried by said second frame including load gripping mechanism, a;bell -crank -lever pivotally mounted between its ends on-said secondfframe, a member operatively connected; tonthe gripping mechanism and pivotally attached to-one arm of the lever, a spring structure -fixed at one end on the first named frame including; an extension attached to the other: arm of the; lever, and meansto terminate ther-pullpot said spring on the'said-lever substantiallyat-the time the weight of the second named: frame and load is in the act of being lifted by the-first frame'through the firstnamed springe V v ll.- In a brick form mechanism, incombination with a power lifted part, an uprightframe earriedthereby, a second upright frame shiftable with respect tothe first frame, a spring attached at one end to the first frame and arttached-atits other end tothe second frame and supportingit, a tine carried by said second frame including load gripping mechanism, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on the named second frame, a member operatively connected to thegripping mechanism and pivotally attached to pne end ofthe' lever, a spring structure fixed at one end of the first frame and including an extension attached to the other end of the said lever, and a stop member on the extension adapted. in the pull of the last named spring to abut said firstlframe, the pull ofv said spring being terminated by said" stop member at the time the 'second named frame is lifted by the first named springs.

L. 12 Ihe invention as recited in claim 11, and wherein the stop member is adjustable on the extension ofthe second named spring.

13. Inabrick fork including, a channeled tine,

a-channel member mountedto swing into and-out of the tine channel, means for carrying and swinging said channel-member, a gripper member seated in the latter for engaging a load to be lifted, a rod extending along the channel within the same and extending through said gripper member longitudinally thereof, and means carried by the channel member to receive abutment of said rod-thereon for' retaining said gripper member in seated position.

14. In a brick fork mechanism, the combination with power lift mechanism, the tines of a brick fork and load gripping mechanism, of means connecting the power lift mechanism yieldingly with said gripping mechanism, a structure yieldingly supported by the said lifting mechanism and carrying the said tines, and including means to halt the gripping action of the gripping mechanism at the moment the power mechanism assumes in its lifting action the weight of the said tines and the gripped load.

15. In a brick fork, in combination with a tine of said fork, a load gripping structure attached to and swingable on said'tine in a lateral direc-- tion withrespectthereto, and a wedging member carried by and longitudinally shiftable on the tine, said member being adapted to move longitudinally in one direction and having one part to engage said load gripping structure and extend itto load engaging position and another part to move in a reverse direction to engage the said structure-and withdraw it to a retracted position. r

16. In a: brick fork, in combination with a tine of said fork, a pivot secured to said tine, an arm extending longitudinally of said tine and mounted on said pivot; with a load-gripping structure attached to and pivoted on said arm and shiftable in a lateral direction with respect to the tinepandan: arm operating member carried by and longitudinally shiftable on the tine, said member having two' opposed arm operating sur faces and being movable in one direction to em gage the arm with one of said surfaces'to swing said arm outwardly and extend the load gripping structure to load engaging position, and movable in a reverse direction of movement to engage said armwith the other of said surfaces to swing the arm inwardly and shift the load gripping structure to a retracted housed position, said operating member being adapted to maintain the said load gripping structure positively in either of its said positions.

17. In combination with a tine of a brick fork having open housings on its opposite edges, a plurality of swingable arms, each of saidarms being pivoted on said tine and swingable outwardly therefrom in opposite lateral directions, saidarms carrying a plurality of load gripping structures shiftable onthe tine; means to shift said operating means in either of two directions to simultaneously extend said arms and load gripping structures to load engaging position; or to simultaneously withdraw the said load gripping structures andcarry them to retracted positions within the open housings on the opposite edges of the tine.

18.- -Incombination with a power elevated part and aload l-ifting brick fork, aload gripping structure attached to and adapted to swing laterally from a tine of said fork, an operating member carried by. and longitudinally shiftable on the tine; said operating member being operatively connected with the said power elevated part by a bell crank anda link secured to said bell crank and extending to said power elevated part; said bell crank and link being so constructed and arranged as to swing said load gripping structure outwardly to its load engaging position responsive to upward movement of said power elevated part with respect to said fork; and to swing it to a retracted position responsive to downward movement thereof.

19. In combination with the tine of a brick fork, a pair of flanges forming a longitudinal channel thereon, an arm located between said flanges and pivoted at one end on said flanges, a load gripping structure pivotally carried on the other end of the arm adapted to swing with said arm in a lateral direction in respect to said tine, and an operating member mounted on the tine and adapted to shift longitudinally of said tine; said member including engaging surfaces to swing the operating member in either of two directions to withdraw the arm and load gripping structure within the space between the flanges or to swing said arms outwardly to project the load gripping members into engaging positions beyond said flanges.

20. In combination with a channeled tine of a brick fork, a pair of spaced arms pivoted at one of their ends to the tine with a load gripping structure swingably mounted between the other ends of said arms, a channel shaped operating member extending longitudinally of said tine to shift longitudinally in said tine and adapted to actuate the gripping structures therein, said channel member having opposed flanges with matching recesses shaped to receive the said arms and to create longitudinally extending fingers alongside said arms; said flanges of the member each also including cams spaced from the ends of the fingers in a longitudinal direction and oblique to the longitudinal line of the tine; the arms in their retracted position lying within the named recess and in the path of movement of the cam surfaces and in their extended position lying in the path of movement of said fingers.

21. A brick fork tine comprising, in combination, a frame member consisting of a main beam having a vertical wall with upper and lower horizontal flanges extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions to define a pair of oppositely disposed open channels on the opposite sides of the tine; a plurality of pivots extending between the upper and lower flanges of said frame member and a plurality of arms carried on said pivots; and a load gripping member longitudinally disposed in each of said channels and adapted to be projected through the open sides thereof; said load gripping members being pivoted to and carried by said arms whereby said members are adapted to swing outward from the tine parallel thereto and on opposite sides thereof.

22. In a brick fork including a plurality of fork tines in parallel relation with laterally shiftable load gripping structures in each tine, the

combination of a power elevated part comprising a main frame having a pair of vertical members spaced apart from each other and joined by a plurality of horizontal members extending therebetween, a secondary frame including a pair of vertically extending members spaced apart from each other and horizontal members extending therebetween, with the aforesaid fork tines supported on and extending outwardly from one of said horizontal members; vertically shiftable guide members between said frames to permit free relative elevational movement therebetween, spring suspension means extending between said frames and supporting the secondary frame on the main frame; together with a plurality of separate and independent gripper actuating linkages between said frames; each of said linkages including a compensating spring and individually adjustable members whereby the action of all the grippers on all of the tines may be ccordinated.

23. In a brick fork including a plurality of fork tines in parallel relation with laterally shiftable load gripping structures in each tine, the combination of a power elevated part comprising a main frame having a pair of vertical members spaced apart from each other and joined by a plurality of horizontal members extending therebetween, a secondary frame including a pair of vertically extending members spaced apart from each other and horizontal members extending therebetween, with the aforesaid fork tines supported on and extending outwardly from one of said horizontal members; vertically shiftable guide members between said frames to permit free relative elevational movement therebetween, spring suspension means extending between said frames and supporting the secondary frame on the main frame; together with a plurality of separate and independent gripper actuating linkages between said frames; each of said linkages consisting of a longitudinal member extending into one of the tines of the fork to actuate a gripping structure thereof, a bell crank pivoted on said secondary frame and secured to the outer end of said longitudinal member, and a link secured to said bell crank and to the main frame, said linkages each including a compensating spring and individually adjustable members whereby the action of all the grippers on all of the tines may be coordinated.

ANDREW A. NO-ACK. CARL H. SCHMIDGALL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Allen Jan. 19, 1915 Number 

